IN MEMORIAM Remembering Mrs Shirin Fozdar 1905 - 2 February 1992

GRIEVED PASSING SHIRIN FOZDAR, DEDICATED MAIDSERVANT BAHA’U’LLAH.  HER INDEFATIGABLE SPIRIT, ABIDING DEVOTION, PERSISTENT AUDACITY, UNTIRING EFFORTS SERVICE BELOVED CAUSE SPANNING OVER SEVEN DECADES IN FIELD TEACHING, PROCLAMATION, ADMINISTRATION, EDUCATION, EMBRACING MANY COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY INDIAN SUBCONTINENT AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, HAVE EARNED HER WORTHY POSITION AMONG IMMORTAL FIGURES HISTORY FAITH FORMATIVE AGE BAHA’I DISPENSATION.  HER ACTIVITIES INTERNATIONAL FIELDS, PARTICULARLY RELATED STATUS WOMEN, HAVE OPENED NEW DOORS REACHING HIGHER STRATA SOCIETY.  TO LAST BREATH HER PRECIOUS LIFE SHE CONSCIOUSLY STROVE RENDER SERVICE FAITH.

Extract of the message dated 3 February 1992 from The Universal House of Justice to our National Spiritual Assembly on the passing of Mrs Shirin Fozdar.

The diminutive, sari-clad Shirin Fozdar is best remembered for having spoken up time and again for women’s rights, despite threats of assassination for speaking on a sensitive issue.  

Born in Bombay of Persian parents, Mrs Fozdar’s dedicated efforts in Singapore started as soon as she migrated here with her doctor husband in 1950 to help set up a Baha’i community.  Her attempts to improve the status of women were remarkable considering the political and social backdrop of Singapore at that time.  Communist agents were active, and there was social unrest, unemployment and labour strikes, and few dared to speak out against the establishment for fear of being branded a communist.

This oft-described “champion of Asian women” co-founded the Singapore Council of Women (SCW) in 1952 with the goal of improving the lot of Singapore women.  As honorary secretary and spokesperson of the SCW throughout the 50s, she sent strongly-worded letters to government officials in Singapore and to the colonial affairs office in London pressing for a monogamous marriage law.  An eloquent speaker, she also gave numerous talks and lobbied for reforms.

Her persistent efforts combined with those of other women leaders helped Singapore women attain a major victory—the Women’s Charter.  Mrs Fozdar, a mother of five children, also tried to help women through education.  She spearheaded Singapore’s first girls’ club at Joo Chiat Welfare Centre in 1953 where subjects like English and arithmetic were taught.     

Her fight for equality had started when she was a teenager in India.  In 1934, she represented the All Asian Women’s Conference executive committee at the League of Nations in Geneva making a case for women’s rights.  A decade later, she set up women’s groups in India to help impoverished women.  

She once told the press that she was compelled to fight for women because of her Bahá’í Faith which teaches that men and women are equal.  “I believe if women all over the world will make common cause in obtaining due rights for their sex, their efforts will be crowned with success.”  

Recognized in several countries for her active promotion of equality, she was often invited abroad to give her views.  In 1959, she was invited by the American government to speak on women’s rights and colour prejudice.  She also led delegations to overseas conferences to discuss women’s rights and issues.  In 1961, Mrs Fozdar went to rural northeast Thailand to set up a school for girls and returned to Singapore 14 years later when her work was completed.  From then onwards up till her death in February 1992 at age 87, she traveled tirelessly all over the Asia-Pacific region attending conferences and meeting with civic and religious leaders, politicians and women activists.  

Numerous accolades have been showered on Mrs Fozdar.  In 1988, she was the first woman singled out for a tribute by the Singapore Council of Women’s Organizations.  Ms Lena Lim, who read the tribute, said: “We want to salute her for having spoken on unspeakable subjects, for daring to venture into areas others feared to tread.”  

Mr S. Rajaratnam, Singapore’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs, voiced a common opinion when he wrote in a commemorative brochure: “I have known … of the single-minded way in which she struggled to promote and safeguard the rights of women and to enhance the status of women in our country...I would like to join with others in recognition of her services to promote justice for women in Asia.”

In May 1993, the Association of Women for Action and Research launched The Shirin Fozdar Trust Fund.  The fund, to be used for the advancement of women in Singapore, keeps alive the memory of this well-loved woman leader and carries on her vision of a world where men and women are equal.  

(Voices & Choices, The Women’s Movement in Singapore, Pg 146-147)

CANVASSING AT THE NSA ELECTION IN 1968, AS A RESULT OF WHICH THE UHJ DISSOLVED THE NSA AND REQUESTED A NEW ELECTION

The process of Baha'i elections, as we all know, is completely different from the methodology and practices of elections in other political systems. At least, it is what the Baha'i authorities usually explain. The Baha'i Guardian has stated that if politicians' election methods are followed, misunderstandings and divisions would occur, turmoil and confusion will result, mischief will prevail, and God's confirmations will be shut off from that Baha'i community. Given these dire warnings, wouldn't a devout Baha'i go to great lengths to ensure that the purity and spiritual integrity of Baha'i elections be preserved? But, regrettably, we view things differently. Although we see these things occurring in the Baha'i community with every year with every other election, the only difference is that measures are done just once in a while.

 

Former counsellor explained that somewhere in early 70’s there was a huge canvassing in NSA election. UHJ wrote to counsellors that they should, decide on the problem right away. Because of the gravity of the situation, it was decided that all of the Counsellors should travel to India. The five Counselors met with India's National Spiritual Assembly to assess the tragedy's impact and organize the next Convention's convocation.

The news was then relayed to the public, culminating in the announcement of the Supreme Body’s penalty against Dr. Bhargava, Mr. Vadji, Mr. Lad, and Mr. Tripathy. It was the clear instruction from the Supreme Body that the reasons for reconvocation of the National Convention and the re—election of the NSA should be defined and the delegates to the Convention should be told of the sanctions imposed on them. Mr. Rahmani and Dr. Salmanpour also joined the meeting and the matter was fully explained after the inspection was done. It was wrote to the Supreme Body that indeed there was ‘corruption’ and ‘collision’ of monetary machinations in India, it has a direct link to Mr. Vadji and his utter humiliation.

The absent delegates' ballots were one of the major elements publicly recognized by NSA members. The Centre of canvassing is the area where the majority of delegates are illiterate, either completely or partially. Traveling instructors are frequently hired to accept ballots, and it is here that electioneering, canvassing, and other nefarious activities take place. If a lot of delegates from the south of India want to attend the Convention, they will have to travel three days by train to New Delhi, necessitating at least a week to travel and remain in Delhi. For laborers, growers, and low-wage staff, this is exorbitant. Despite the fact that the NSA covers all expenses and lodging, the delegates from the South will have a difficult time attending the Convention. Bhopal and Gwalior are home to the majority of the delegates. They are greeted by visiting teachers. Unfortunately, there are a few illiterates within this group. Electioneering's multifaceted ramifications may clearly be sensed in various areas. It was also thought that Mr. Lad would initiate entangling activities and contemplate to gain accomplice in his vesture. And Dr. Bhargava would recede presently but finally he would join Mr. Lad, and create ge trouble particularly in regions of such as Bihar and Gwalior. It was also said that looking at the potential of these two members there should be consideration and tact, so that these members do not react. So where was the spirit of Bahai Election it shows “Mighty wins the Race.”

The same practices are still rampant but with the knowledge of the Supreme Body who sees that if the desired members are elected on the NSA they overlook it but if undesired elements are elected then they ask for his resignation citing malpractices.

Mr. Oliya was being elected on NSA for many years with all the above-mentioned malpractices but still he was allowed to continue but Dr. Ahmed Ansari was undesired member so was asked to quit.

Mrs. Farideh Vahidi  and Dr. Moghbelpour  were undesired member and hence were too asked to quit

It should be mentioned that the preceding occurrence occurred about 50 years ago, and no such action has been taken since then. If you ask any Baha'i, they will tell you that similar things are still happening around them throughout the election season, but no one is doing anything about it. When you observe certain inexperienced or immature Baha'is participate in electioneering, whether publicly or surreptitiously, it is job of the Counsellor present to stand up and aid in the eradication of such inclinations and the purification of the Baha'i community from such bad influences. Rather than being drawn to mimic them, you should resolve to help in the eradication of such inclinations and the purifying of the Baha'i community from such bad influences by right administrative means. Only then will we be able to cleanse our system of such atrocities as Baha'is.

-Former Member of NSA OF INDIA